Dual color guest-host polarizers and devices containing guest-host polarizers

Abstract

A guest-host polarizer is disclosed that includes a host matrix, one or more first guest dyes disposed in the host matrix and oriented to absorb a first portion of visible light having a first polarization state, and one or more second guest dyes disposed in the host matrix and oriented to absorb a second portion of visible light having a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state. Such guest-host polarizers can be used in various optical applications and display constructions.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A guest-host polarizer comprising: 
       a host matrix;  
       one or more first guest dyes disposed in the host matrix and oriented to absorb a first portion of visible light having a first polarization state; and  
       one or more second guest dyes disposed in the host matrix and oriented to absorb a second portion of visible light having a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state.  
     
     
       2. The guest-host polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the guest-host polarizer transmits one color of light of the first polarization state and substantially absorbs all visible light of the second polarization state. 
     
     
       3. The guest-host polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the guest-host polarizer transmits a first color of light of the first polarization state and a second color of light of the second polarization state. 
     
     
       4. The guest-host polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the host matrix comprises a liquid crystalline material. 
     
     
       5. The guest-host polarizer of  claim 4 , wherein the liquid crystalline material comprises a lyotropic liquid crystal. 
     
     
       6. The guest-host polarizer of  claim 4 , wherein the liquid crystalline material comprises a nematic liquid crystal. 
     
     
       7. The guest-host polarizer of  claim 4 , wherein the liquid crystalline material comprises a triazine group. 
     
     
       8. The guest-host polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first guest dyes comprises a parallel-colorless dye. 
     
     
       9. The guest-host polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first guest dyes comprises a reactive dye. 
     
     
       10. The guest-host polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first guest dyes comprises a triazine group. 
     
     
       11. The guest-host polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first guest dyes comprises at least two different dye compounds. 
     
     
       12. The guest-host polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more second guest dyes comprises a perpendicular-colorless dye. 
     
     
       13. The guest-host polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more second guest dyes comprises a direct dye. 
     
     
       14. The guest-host polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more first and one or more second guest dyes comprise at least two different dye compounds. 
     
     
       15. The guest-host polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first guest dyes comprises a parallel-colorless dye and the second guest dye comprises a perpendicular-colorless dye. 
     
     
       16. The guest-host polarizer of  claim 1 , wherein the guest-host polarizer is disposed in a transfer layer of a donor element comprising a base sheet, a light-to-heat converter and the transfer layer, and wherein the transfer layer is transferable in an imagewise fashion to a receptor substrate upon selective irradiation of the donor element when the transfer layer is placed in contact with the receptor. 
     
     
       17. The guest-host polarizer of  claim 1 , further comprising a dichroic polarizer positioned adjacent the guest-host polarizer and having a transmission axis aligned to transmit light having one of the first polarization state or the second polarization state. 
     
     
       18. A color liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal material disposed between two parallel display panel substrates, at least one of the display panel substrates having an array of color filters disposed thereon, at least one of the color filters comprising a guest-host polarizer that includes a host matrix, one or more first guest dyes disposed in the host matrix and oriented to absorb a first portion of visible light having the first polarization state, and one or more second guest dyes disposed in the host matrix and oriented to absorb a second portion of visible light having the second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state.